Commissioner Jerry Schniepp is happy with the new digs to the right, over his left shoulder.

Since Jerry Schniepp took over as commissioner 7½ months ago, the CIF’s San Diego Section further developed a media partnership with Time Warner Cable, acquired adidas as its official gear sponsor, prepared to launch a new website and moved into new digs at the San Diego Hall of Champions in Balboa Park.

Schniepp and his staff officially relocated April 2 from the county Office of Education on Linda Vista Road into a spacious first-floor office that used to house a store in the Hall of Champions.

A mutual interest in assisting the region’s high school athletes prompted the Hall of Champions to approach Schniepp last fall about providing office space for the San Diego Section, one of 10 sections in the California Interscholastic Federation.

“It has always been the goal of the Hall to provide quality education, training and skills development programs to San Diego athletes and we believe it is a natural fit with CIF,” San Diego Hall of Champions President Alan Kidd said. “Jerry and I will work closely to explore opportunities that will support and benefit CIF and high school students.”

Schniepp sees the new location as one that just makes sense.

“I feel like it’s where we belong,” he said. “The Hall is really the hub of sports in San Diego. They put on a lot of events that involve our kids now. They do a lot of great events that I think we should be part of, so that relationship is a big part of it.”

Additionally, Schniepp noted that CIF is a business and as such was attracted to the professional appearance the Hall could provide.

“I think that it can’t be overstated either that we are trying to bring in money,” he said. “So when we meet with sponsors and people who are going to support our programs, I think it’s important that they see we are professional and a viable business. I think people will like coming here. There are a lot of positives.”

Schniepp said the move also saves money. The local CIF is getting the 600-square-foot space rent-free because the Hall of Champions’ lease prohibits subletting space.

However, the CIF will pay the nonprofit rate for renting meeting-room space and anticipates spending approximately $450 per month, compared with about $7,500 a year at the Linda Vista location.

“We definitely, on average, will spend less per year than we were at the county,” Schniepp said.

Having more space will also benefit the CIF when it’s in a position to expand its five-person staff. The San Diego Section has grown in the past 10 years and Schniepp said he would like to increase the staff accordingly. Schniepp plans on proposing an increase at next month’s board of managers meeting.

“I think we need not only to increase the efficiency of our office, but also to expand our ability to bring in sponsorships,” Schniepp said.